Delhi Dynamos FC held to a 1-1 draw by NorthEast United FC at home

New Delhi: Highlanders NorthEast United FC held hosts Delhi Dynamos FC to a closely contested 1-1 draw at a half-lit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The match started off on a chaotic note as the floodlights of only one side of the stadium were functional, delaying the kick-off for 35 minutes.

NorthEast United dominated the first half but failed to find the net on four occasions and allowed the home team take the lead before half-time.

But the visitors fought back and restored parity through Simao's brilliant equaliser in the 71st minute.

The stalemate meant that the Carlos-led side became at par with front-runners FC Pune City with 13 points from seven matches but remained just behind them due to a inferior goal difference.

NorthEast didn't gain much either improving to seven points from as many matches but staying in the seventh position of the eight-team tournament.

The crowd turnout at the 60,000 capacity stadium was disappointing for the second successive home match of the Dynamos. Even in that sparse attendance, the home supporters were outnumbered by the away contingent, who cheered their team's every move wholeheartedly.

Desperately needed a victory to keep their play-off chances alive, the Highlanders put up a dominant performance and made early inroads with a steady flow of passes with Jorge Manuel Rebelo Fernandes and Bikey winning the ball for constantly for the visitors.

At the 7th minute, NorthEast came close to finding the lead through a great header by Dadzie on a cross from Seityasen but it went wide. Silas laid it for Seityasen who got past the right back and crossed it towards the far post which saw Dadzie head it over the target by not much distance.

The Highlanders kept on attacking but failed to find the target. Luck also did not favour the visitors who failed to make the best use of the opportunities.

Dynamos' marquee player-manager Carlos named himself in the starting XI for the first time in the tournament.

But the Brazilian-led midfield couldn't get the team into the contest, increasing the pressure of their deep defence.

Dynamos though got a foothold in the action gradually. A Robin Singh header and a Franciso Fernandes shot from close range, both of which flew just wide, gave them confidence. But they needed more inspiration at the back from conceding under sustained pressure.

Spaniard goalkeeper Toni Doblas provided that spark, effecting a triple save in the 35th minute.

Delhi's outfield players suddenly found an extra gear and launched a swift counter attack that culminated into the home team taking lead on 37 minutes.

The deadlock was broken when former France international Florent Malouda made a brilliant run forward and found striker Richard Gadze who stabbed it across Rehenesh into the far post to hand Delhi 1-0 lead in the 37th minute.

The visitors would have been felt aggrieved to have gone behind while walking back to the dressing room at half-time, clearly being the better the team in the first 45 minutes.

They began with more vigour and got the better of the Norwegian star John Arne Riise-led Dynamos defence. But were stopped from equalising by the frame of the goal twice, at the stroke of the hour mark, with Jorge Frenandes' dipping free-lick kissing the top of the cross piece on its way out and Ghanaian forward Francis Dadzie's firm left-footed placement rebounding of the post.

The home team too went on a offensive with the introduction of Dos Santos injecting some pace into their attack as the Brazilian created a few chances but unfortunately they weren't converted.

The 42-year-old Carlos, largely a spectator and preferring to sit back and protect the lead, substituted himself with Serginho Greene in the 69th minute.

The visitors got a chance to restore parity three minutes later when Portuguese marquee player Simao Sabrosa, who replaced his compatriot Silas in the 72nd minute, put the free-kick over the wall and into the corner and drew it level. Goalkeeper Doblas was left stranded in what came as the first goal from a free-kick this season.

Thereafter, both the sides huffed and puffed to get a second one but failed to convert their chances and in the end a draw was a fair result.